Kitesurfing in Todos Santos, Mexico
Todos Santos sits on the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, roughly an hour north of Cabo San Lucas. The town is better known for its art galleries and boutique hotels, but the exposed beach breaks and consistent northwest wind make it one of the most compelling wave-riding destinations for experienced kiteboarders in Mexico. If you ride strapless or want to push your wave skills, this is the stretch of coast worth planning around.
Why Todos Santos
Most kitesurfing spots in Baja cater to flat-water riders or beginners. Todos Santos is different. The open Pacific fetch delivers clean, well-formed waves that break along several kilometers of sandy beach. There are no reefs to worry about, but the swell can be serious — overhead sets are common during peak season. The town itself is small, unhurried, and increasingly well set up for traveling riders who want good food and uncrowded lineups without the resort-town energy of Los Cabos. For kitesurfing Todos Santos offers a rare combination: strong wind, real waves, and almost no crowd pressure on the water.
Wind & Best Season
The wind window runs from November through April, driven by the same northwest pressure systems that push cold fronts down the Pacific coast of North America. Expect consistent 15–28 knots, with the strongest and most reliable sessions between December and March. Morning hours tend to be lighter, with wind building through the afternoon and often peaking in the late afternoon.
Northwest is the dominant wind direction, which hits the coast side-onshore along most of the rideable beaches — ideal for wave riding on your toeside. April still delivers wind but with less consistency, and by May the season is effectively over. If you are planning a trip specifically for kiteboarding Mexico's Pacific side, target January or February for the highest probability of back-to-back sendable days.
Water Conditions
This is a wave spot. The Pacific swell is unobstructed here, and the beach breaks produce fast, punchy waves that range from waist-high on mellow days to well overhead when a solid northwest swell lines up. Water temperatures sit in the low 20s °C (low 70s °F) during peak season — comfortable in a 3/2 wetsuit, though some riders prefer a 4/3 on early morning downwinders.
The current can be strong, particularly on bigger days, so self-rescue skills are non-negotiable. There is no flat-water lagoon or sheltered bay to fall back on. The entire coastline is open ocean with shore break, making launches and landings the most technical part of many sessions. Riders comfortable in surf will feel at home. Riders who have only kited on flat water will find Todos Santos humbling.
Who It's For
Todos Santos is an advanced kitesurfing destination. The combination of shore break, open-ocean swell, strong current, and gusty onshore wind means this is not the place to learn or to ride your first few sessions outside a lagoon. Intermediate riders who are confident with board starts and upwind riding but have no wave experience will struggle here.
The spot rewards riders who already have wave skills — strapless surfboard riding, directional board control in swell, and the ability to manage kite position in onshore conditions. If you are progressing from flat water into waves, consider building experience at a more forgiving wave spot before committing to Todos Santos. That said, if wave kiting is your focus, few places in Mexico deliver this quality of swell with this much wind reliability. It ranks among the best kite spots Mexico has on its Pacific coast for dedicated wave riders.
Where to Stay & Learn
The town of Todos Santos has a solid range of accommodation, from guesthouses and casitas to boutique hotels. Most riders stay within the town center or along the road toward the beaches and drive five to ten minutes to their launch spots. There is no beachfront resort strip — which is part of the appeal.
For riders looking to sharpen their wave skills with local guidance, Todos Santos kite community operates in the area and can help visiting kiters dial in the right beaches for current conditions, manage the shore break, and find the best windows in the swell. Having someone who reads this coastline daily is genuinely useful here, especially during your first few sessions when the current and wave timing are unfamiliar. As a kite school Todos Santos options are limited, so connecting with the local community early in your trip is worth the effort.
How to Get There
Fly into San José del Cabo (SJD), the main international airport for the southern tip of Baja California Sur. From SJD, Todos Santos is roughly 80 kilometers northwest — about a 60 to 75 minute drive depending on traffic through Cabo San Lucas. Renting a car is strongly recommended. You will need it to access different beach breaks depending on wind direction and swell, and there is no practical public transit along the coast. The road from Cabo is a well-maintained two-lane highway (Mexico 19) with straightforward navigation.
FAQ
What is the best time to go kitesurfing in Todos Santos?
December through March offers the most consistent wind and swell combination. January and February tend to be the peak months, with the highest percentage of rideable days. November and April bookend the season with usable but less reliable conditions.
How strong is the wind in Todos Santos for kitesurfing?
Typical wind range is 15–28 knots from the northwest. Most riders fly 9m or 10m kites as their primary size during peak season, with a 7m in the bag for the stronger days. Light-wind days below 15 knots happen but are the exception, not the rule.
Is Todos Santos good for beginner kitesurfers?
No. The open-ocean shore break, strong currents, and lack of flat water make Todos Santos unsuitable for beginners or early intermediates. Riders should be confident in at least moderate wave conditions before visiting. Flat-water learning spots like La Ventana, roughly two hours east, are a much better starting point for kiteboarding Mexico's Baja coast.
What gear do I need for kitesurfing in Todos Santos?
Bring wave-oriented equipment: a directional surfboard or strapless board, a 3/2 or 4/3 wetsuit, and kites in the 7m–12m range to cover the full wind window. A helmet is advisable given the shore break. Impact vests are common. Make sure your safety systems and self-rescue are dialed — you will be riding in open Pacific conditions with no nearby rescue boat coverage.